Kjell Eriksson's first crime novel, The Illuminated Path, was named Best First Novel of 1999 by the Swedish Crime Fiction Academy, and The Princess of Burundi was selected Best Swedish Crime Novel in 2002. Much like previous winner Henning Mankell, Kjell Eriksson is very adept at spinning a tight and suspenseful mystery plot, laden with psychological and sociological insight. The Princess of Burundi begins, benignly enough, with a morning jog. The run turns deadly when the jogger finds a mutilated body in the snow. The victim is soon identified as the town’s reformed troublemaker, who is an expert on tropical fish. Inspector Ann Lindell, despite being on maternity leave, is determined to find the brutal killer. Soon she is drawn into a cruel cat-and-mouse game that leads to the deadliest of confrontations.The novel received starred reviews and glowing commentary in both Publishers Weekly and Library Journal and was lauded by People Magazine as "compelling" and "a whodunit with heart."Kjell Eriksson will be meeting the public and signing books at the Partners & Crime bookstore in Greenwich Village on April 13 at 7 pm.Kjell Eriksson Partners & Crime44 Greenwich Avenue (corner of Charles Street)New York CityApril 13, 2006, at 7 pmPhoto: Kjell Eriksson, © Idha Lindhag